Κολονοσκόπηση - καρκίνος κόλου
Colonoscopy – colon cancer

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is a common cancer, which if found early and treated properly may have an excellent prognosis. Early diagnosis is accomplished with preventive colonoscopy; the first should be performed at the age of 50, or by investigating the alarming symptoms : bowel movement change, blood in bowel motions, unexplainable anemia or persistent abdominal pain. In recent years, traditional colon surgery has changed with the introduction of extended lymphadenectomy, the resection of a bigger part of the colon and all these by respecting the embryological planes between fascias.

Both the pathologists and the surgeon have started an attempt to control the quality of surgery.

All colorectal cancers are recorded at the database of the “Gastrointestinal Cancer Study Group “. It is the task of the multidisciplinary team to decide for any further treatment and their decision is based on the final histology report and follows the guidelines published yearly by societies as the European Society of Medical Oncology.

There are changes in the colon cancer management expected in the near future concerning the use of preoperative chemotherapy according to the findings of magnetic resonance or computerized tomography.